By N. Benally, Training and Technical Assistance Specialist,
Tribal Youth Resource Center
As far as I can remember, healing was a sentient experience. Entering the hogan, smelling the cool red clay earthen floor, smelling the cedar from the fire in the middle, feeling the soft silky goat hides, the plush hides of sheep and Pendleton shawls we sat upon. Listening to the hushed tones of conversation from relatives, elders, and clan relatives within the recesses of the circles, their bodies a faint outline cast from the faint glow of the kerosene lamp against the cedar logs of the hogan. The cedar fire emitting a faint popping as the glowing embers and pungent smoke spiraled upward through the opening in the center, mixing and slowly disappearing into the starlit night.
Among the Indigenous population, concepts of health and healthy living are holistically intertwined within social, physical, natural, and spiritual systems. On-going processes of colonization and experiences of environmental dispossession have had the effect of removing Indigenous Peoples from the lands, people, and knowledge systems that have traditionally promoted their health. These practices have kept people healthy because they foster interaction with the land and its bounty of food and medicine, and because they strengthen cultural identities and deepen one’s sense of belonging. This socio-psychological legacy of trauma brings attention to the complex and cumulative nature of the ongoing impact of colonization. The concept of historical oppression is important to understand in relation to the experiences of Indigenous youth.
To understand healing in Indigenous communities, you must understand that healing dwells within a sacred space that shares three interconnected concepts – sharing of Indigenous knowledge, the social space to share this knowledge, and connection to the land. In poet and songwriter Rita Joe’s (1989) poem about the loss of her Indigenous language at residential school, she writes, “I lost my talk / The talk you took away…let me find my talk / So I can teach you about me.” The “talk” is her language, which is integral to her cultural connection.
We are finding that when Indigenous people find their “talk”, they can open up a dialogue to begin sharing the core pieces of themselves. Rekindling cultural practices such as storytelling, talking circles, drumming, singing are just a few examples of how creating sacred spaces for healing to occur provides the foundation for Indigenous communities and their youth to find the space from which resilience can survive and thrive.
Cultural wounds demand cultural medicines – this is where our youth can express their “talk” – this space of reconnecting to everything and everyone allows them to access their collective vigor and resilience. Building this narrative to begin their healing journey to overcome the historical trauma, addictions, abuse, oppression and other effects is a passage for them to attain safe traditional wellness care. When we support our youth and families so they can recreate the knowledge of their Indigenous ancestors, we can listen to them and provide them the space to dream, to lead and to act in a way that strengthens their identities and transforms their lives, as we provide the framework within which they can continue to incorporate the knowledge of their ancestors – to create a dialogue and a space to regain our power to “talk.”
As the ceremony began, there was only the collective stillness yielding its healing power as the re-creation of our deities by name, color, direction until we all guided this collective power and restoration of balance and beauty ….. Hózhó náhásdlíí’. Hózhó náhásdlíí’. Hózhó náhásdlíí’. Hózhó náhásdlíí’.
